When I was brainstorming ideas for this post, I was HORRIFIED to discover that I could only think of, like, five activities that didn’t involve technology.

So many of my favorite things – watching dance tutorials on Youtube, road tripping (via GPS), Skyping with far-flung friends – require a laptop or an internet connection. Which is simultaneously depressing and not surprising.

Like many bloggers, I’m completely addicted to technology. I’ve not yet reached the ‘work on my laptop in bed’ point, but I frequently get home from a night out and immediately walk into my office (with my coat and boots still on!) to check my email and social media.

I’ve tried to curb my habit by removing email/Facebook/Twitter from my phone (though I still half-ass Instagram) but I notice a huuuuge difference in my mood when I step away from my screen and into, well, real life.With that in mind, I’m going to wholeheartedly embrace National Unplug Day, March 7-8. (Though I’ve still got a post and social media scheduled for tomorrow for those of you who won’t be ‘celebrating.’)

It’s probably a lot easier for me to unplug than a lot of people – mostly because I can tell my clients I’m taking the day off and then close my laptop. I realize that’s not an option if you’ve got a boss and all sorts of computer-based responsibilities. But what if you unplugged from 5 pm on the 7th to 5 pm on the 8th? You’d probably be about a million times happier with your weekend.

14. Visit your local library. I periodically forget about them and then re-remember that you can read hundreds of magazines and books for free! Or attend cool events! Go there and read all the back issues of Cat Fancy.

15. Go for a long walk in a new park or a neighborhood you’ve never explored.

I didn't even know about National Unplug Day! These are really good ideas! A paint-by-numbers kit, or just painting freely, sounds like fun, and so does a bonfire complete with roasted potatoes. I think I know what my tomorrow is going to look like. 🙂

Wait. Hold the phone. Did you finally get a data plan? Or maybe I'm reading this wrong? "I've tried to curb my habit by removing email/Facebook/Twitter from my phone" do you mean that you had it and then removed it or that you refuse to have it? Whenever I get obsessive about my smartphone I always think "but Sarah Von doesn't even get email on her phone! Chill out and put it down!" So I'm curious for inspirational reasons.

When my Garmin broke, I got a data plan on my phone so I could get gps – but I only use data for Instagram and GPS. I've been thinking about getting another Garmin and just waiting till I'm around wifi to use Instagram!

Love these ideas! I have decided to start doing mindfulness for 10 minutes a day to try and reduce some of my thoughtless bad habits, internet reliance being one of them! Will definitely keep this in mind this weekend

Love! I just sent this to my husband to see if he wants to do it! We're both hooked to our phones more than we should be and it would be a great excuse to 100% focus on family time with our son this weekend. Thanks for sharing <3

I've been needing a break from technology for a while now. I got introduced to Lumia last in December of last year, and I have been hooked; taking pictures, sending emails, writing my short stories, Whatsapp, and recently, Instagram!Yesterday, I took a break from my phone (except for when I was taking pictures). I cooked an old favourite meal – spicy rice (we call it pilau) and zucchini and tomato stew. I was at the top of my office building after a great concert with a bunch of campus friends and we're meeting up for a spoken word performance with a few other after-campus friends tomorrow evening and for a poetry/writers' workshop on Sunday. I already have the bonfire, walk in my newish neighbourhood, quality time in a library and bus roulette on my bucket list. I love hosting and having friends over and visiting friends and staying up all night discussing literature and life.

These are great ideas! I'm trying hard to get my internet use down to an hour a day as a spring/Lent project, and it is SUPER hard. But I love the idea of doing a whole day. I also had no idea this was a thing. 🙂

Yay! That's so awesome! I got a pedi with my BFF, read a million magazines, went to the library, hung out with my dude, made 'adventure fruit salad' (from all the unidentified fruit from the Asian grocery store) and went to a dinner party!

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